Youths demand permanent solution to Tiv, Jukun crisis

Leadership of the Tiv Youth Council (TYC) has called for decisive actions towards restoration of permanent peace between the warring ethnic groups in Benue and Taraba states.The group, in a statement yesterday signed by its president, Mike Msuaan, also wants victims of the Tiv/Jukun ethnic crisis rehabilitated by government.

It stressed the urgent need for the critical stakeholders to set up machinery towards reconciling the people.“We call on the state and federal governments to deploy all that is in their powers to end this crisis, at least for the sake of the defenceless women and children who are mostly the victims of such inhuman attacks. These defenceless ones always look up to leaders as their gods here on earth; so leaving them to rust is a sin against God and humanity.

“We also strongly call for the setting up of a high-powered independent commission of inquiry into the causes and sponsors of these tragic acts. The perpetrators, when found, should be made to face the full wrath of the law, to serve as deterrent to others.“We, again, demand the immediate compensation to the victims. This is the responsibility of our state governments, and they must ensure its implementation,” TYC stated.

Msuaan regretted that Benue, the once attractive Food Basket of the Nation, now has its fertile lands soaked with human blood from farmers/herders clashes, Tiv/Jukun crisis and cultism.“All these crises have made the once densely-populated Benue a shadow of itself, with several people living in internally-displaced persons (IDP) camps today,” he added.

According to the group, there is never a problem without a solution, and the criminal elements perpetuating the evils live among men.“Sometimes, it is either somebody somewhere is hiding the truth for selfish gains or someone is just not concerned about the plight of his people for God knows why,” the group asserted.

While believing that President Muhammadu Buhari has the security of the state in mind, TYC commended the security agencies for the arrests made so far and for aborting a recent deadly clash between the two communities.